Americans have long used stories to explore the unique development of their nation: who hasn’t heard the stories about the Boston Tea Party? About Abraham Lincoln's eloquence? Martin Luther King's march? About brave soldiers facing terror in Iraq? We grow up in a land of concepts that spring from these wonderful stories: freedom, liberty, democracy. And, while these terms are familiar to us from an early age, and we refer to them often, their meanings typically remain cloudy. This course will help us explore these ideas, and determine if the mythology of American culture stands up to the reality of American life.
Here are the core questions of the class:
How do stories shape American culture and vice versa?
How have American storytellers dealt with changing identity? •
How do present day American myths and realities compare to early American ones ? •
How do writers use form, voice and language to answer these questions?
Glenbrook South High School Mr. Knight
Junior English 363 Course Description:
Americans have long used stories to explore the unique development of their nation: who hasn’t heard the stories about the Boston Tea Party? About Abraham Lincoln's eloquence? Martin Luther King's march? About brave soldiers facing terror in Iraq? We grow up in a land of concepts that spring from these wonderful stories: freedom, liberty, democracy. And, while these terms are familiar to us from an early age, and we refer to them often, their meanings typically remain cloudy. This course will help us explore these ideas, and determine if the mythology of American culture stands up to the reality of American life.
Here are the core questions of the class: